Bobby Okereke, a three-year captain for the New York Giants, has signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Saturday. The linebacker was made a salary-cap casualty by the Giants in March.
Okereke, 30, could compete for a starting job alongside Devin Lloyd. The Panthers' other potential starters at the position are Trevin Wallace, a 2024 third-round pick with 20 career starts, and Claudin Cherelus, who has six starts. Both Wallace and Cherelus played in the preseason finale Friday night, but neither clearly established themselves as starters.
During his tenure with the Giants, Okereke recorded 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 2023. He joined the Giants as a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 on a four-year, $40 million deal. He is known for his leadership qualities and his ability to quickly learn new defensive schemes. Panthers vice president of team development Brian Decker, who was with the Colts during Okereke's early years, advocated for the reunion.
Okereke's performance saw a decline in the 2024 and 2025 seasons following a back injury, though he finished the most recent season strong with two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the final three games. His departure from the Giants freed up $9 million in cap space, as he was set to count $14.4 million against the cap.
The Panthers have been impacted by numerous preseason injuries and have turned to former Giants players as solutions. Tight end Darren Waller, who played with Okereke on the 2023 Giants, also signed with Carolina after playing for the Miami Dolphins last season. The Panthers prioritized signing Okereke despite the typical NFL practice of waiting until after Week 1 to sign vested veterans due to guaranteed salary rules, indicating a pressing need on their roster.